Shannon Antle Hamilton
Shannon Antle Hamilton chairs the Firm’s Employment Law Service Group, and is a seasoned litigator and counselor on complex employment law issues. Shannon has significant lead counsel experience in employment litigation and has tried numerous cases in both federal and state court to jury verdict. Shannon’s trial experience includes defending companies in workers’ compensation retaliation claims, Family and Medical Leave Act claims, cases brought under Title VII and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Kentucky Whistleblower Act. Shannon also frequently litigates non-compete, non-solicitation and trade secret disputes. Shannon provides counseling to her clients on compliance in all areas of employment law and is a frequent speaker and author on trending employment law issues.
Noncompete? Not So Fast. Business advocacy groups are falling on both sides of the FTC's move to ban noncompete clauses: What businesses need to know.
by Sarah Shadburne, Louisville Business First, May 30, 2023
Where the heck are you? Employment and Tax Implications Arising from Remote Employees
panel member, sponsored by Dean Dorton, December 1, 2021
Employers May Have To Pay For Vaccine Time If It's Required
by Jon Steingart, Law360, January 25, 2021
COVID-19’S Impact on the Construction Industry
Speaker, 2020 Construction Law Institute, UK/CLE, November 11, 2020
Covid-19: Employment Law Impacts for Banks
Speaker, Conference on Legal Issues for Financial Institutes Webinar, October 22, 2020
HR With the Experts: Families First Coronavirus Response Act Update
Panelist, Virtual Event, Greater Louisville, Inc., September 11, 2020
Three things employers should know about the Supreme Court's ruling on LGBTQ rights
by Sarah Shadburne, Louisville Business First, June 22, 2020
Dealing with the Top Issues Managers Face in the Workplace
Women Environmental Leaders of Louisville meeting, Louisville, KY, September 25, 2019
Surviving Today's Threats: Managing Legal Liability
Physical Security Expo, Advanced Global Communications, Louisville, KY, June 19, 2019
P&C Trends to Watch - Are You Vulnerable?
#Me Too Movement
Review of Kentucky Employment Law Cases
Obtained defense jury verdicts in two age discrimination cases based on a reduction-in-force. Paul R. Mitchell and Paul A. Stinnett v. Duramic, LLC, Daviess Circuit Court
Co-counsel in one of the first Kentucky wage & hour class actions tried to a jury defense verdict. Diana Johnston v. The Rawlings Company, LLC, et al., Oldham Circuit Court
Lead counsel for plaintiff in Gardner Denver Drum LLC v. Peter Goodier and Tuthill Vacuum and Blower Systems, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20703 (2006), to enforce a covenant not to compete agreement.
Obtained a defense jury verdict in favor of her client in a state whistleblower action.
Employment Law Service Group, Chair
Diversity Committee, Member and Former Chair
S.W.I.F.T. (Stites Women Investing in our Futures Together) Committee, Member and Former Chair
Chief Talent Officer (2013-15)
Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Human Resources Committee (non-Board member)
Business Counsel, Inc., Strategic Growth Committee (non-Board member)
University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
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Journal of Family Law, Manuscript Editor and Member
University of Louisville
In addition to taking care of her daughter and son, Shannon is a University of Louisville fan ("Go, Cards!") and can often be found in the Green Parking Lot, hosting a tailgating party for her family and friends.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment (2013-23)
Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law - Management (2022)
Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year for Labor & Employment Litigation (2015)
Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2007-23)
Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 25 Women Attorneys in Kentucky (2007, 2013-19, 2021-23)
Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Attorneys in Kentucky (2015-18, 2023)
Chambers USA, "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," Labor & Employment (2008-14; 2020-22)
Louisville Magazine's "Top Lawyers" (2013, 2014, 2016)
Shannon has delivered effective preemptive employment advice, sound defense when required, and results for our firms for over 20 years. I have recommended her to many colleagues, because she has that rare ability to actively listen and quickly comprehend the whole of a given challenge. After careful thought, she then consistently offers realistic and cost-effective strategic options. Her ability to keep our cases moving forward at just the right pace, keeping us informed and engaged are particularly appreciated. She is an awesome attorney, and has earned my trust.
Shannon Antle Hamilton comes recommended as a "very accomplished employment litigator," attracting particularly praise for her strength at trial. She handles a range of employment law disputes, including FMLA, ADA and trade secrets litigation.




“To Text or Not to Text…” Challenges to Defending Employment Matters Involving Text Messages
A client recently received a litigation hold letter from an attorney representing a former employee. It demanded retention and preservation of all “documents and data” relating to or concerning the former employee, their work performance, and termination. The definition of documents and data also included all electronically stored information, “. . . such as e-mail, voicemail, . . . digital audio or video recordings, instant messages, text messages, social media posts, . . . and any other electronic information created, maintained or received by you.”
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2023
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 37 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Medical Cannabis in Kentucky: Executive Action Dated November 15, 2022 - Impact on Kentucky Employers
On November 15, 2022, Governor Andy Beshear signed an Executive Order, which under certain circumstances, grants a “full, complete, and conditional pardon” to individuals who are accused of possession of marijuana under K.R.S. 218A.142.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Chambers USA Honors 23 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2022
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 23 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2022 guide. The Chambers USA guide ranks the top law firms and leading attorneys in the United States.
Supreme Court Rejects OSHA Vaccine Mandate on Private Employers – Allows CMS Healthcare Mandate for Facilities Receiving Medicare/Medicaid Funds
Holding that “[a]lthough Congress has indisputably given OSHA the power to regulate occupational dangers, it has not given the agency the power to regulate public health more broadly,” in a 6-3 decision the Supreme Court of the United States, on January 13, 2022, issued a stay of OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) on vaccination or testing for employers with 100 or more workers.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 37 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2022
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2022 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 37 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 29 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and eight attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Here, There, Everywhere! Top 10 Employment and Tax Considerations When Employees Work Remotely
Employment attorney Shannon Antle Hamilton, and Erica Horn, Associate Tax Director at Dean Dorton, discuss the state tax and employment law implications of remote work.